Discount fashion retailer Bonmarche has opened a new store in Antrim's The Junction retail park ahead of its £30m redevelopment.

The Lotus Group, which owns The Junction, formerly known as Junction One, said the opening of the ladieswear retailer represented an investment of £100,000 and brought 10 new jobs.

Construction work is to start over the next few weeks on a £30m redevelopment of the park after it won outline planning approval in December.

A spokeswoman for Lotus Group said the £30m spend would bring new cafes, shops, restaurants and road infrastructure, which would make The Junction "Northern Ireland's largest shopping and leisure destination".

Alastair Coulson, director of The Lotus Group, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Bonmarche to The Junction."

The Lotus Group also owns Co Down's The Outlet retail centre in Banbridge, which is being renamed The Boulevard.